In life, we use words for everything. We use them every single day, however we never fully realize how big of an impact words can make in someone’s life. In the novel The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, he uses words to create goodness, comfort and sometimes the complete opposite. When confronted by the correct person, a strong vocabulary also has the chance to manipulate any person into changing their mind completely as well; simple conversations can even give someone the decision between life and death. The author shows this through the character’s choice of words, as well as through metaphors and similes, and the irony in the novel. Mark Zusak has portrayed the theme of the power of words in the novel, which has been revealed by the character’s …show more content…
They describe him as “a strange small man” (Zusak, page 445). This furthers the idea that Adolf Hitler is physically weak and therefore uses his words to deceive and outsmart others in order to remain in power and survive the war. To prove the point that Hitler’s words made everyone adore him and believe he was the good person in this situation the narrator explained Liesel as “she was listening to the torrent of words spilling from his mouth. His sentences glowed in the light.” (Zusak page 20) in this sentence, they are proving that everyone saw Hitler’s words glowing in the light. Even though he is weak and unable to physically prove his power, he can use his words wisely to make many people believe that what he is doing is the right thing. Up to the scenario where Ilsa Hermann has to tell Liesel that they can no longer keep her mother employed. “Blood leaked from her nose and licked at her lips. Her eyes had blackened. Cuts had opened up and a series of wounds were rising to the surface of her skin. All from the words. From Liesel’s words” (Zusak, 263). Until this point, Liesel always saw words and books as a positive thing. The …show more content…
Liesel has compared a few characters to a simile, such as “hair like fluff” when describing Ilsa Hermann. Liesel compares Rudy’s hair to be “like a lemon” which provides us with a picture to remember Rudy by. When Liesel went to find Max in the group of Jewish people, she quoted “Feathery hair, she thought. No, hair like twigs. That is what he looks like when he has not been washed. Look out for hair like twigs and swampy eyes and a kindling beard.” These similes all have a very powerful meaning for Liesel. It describes a boy who she sees her brother. These words are how she found, and remembered Max. "Trust me, though, the words were on their way, and when they arrived, Liesel would hold them in her hands like the clouds, and she would wring them out like rain." (pg.80). Liesel is learning to read as a coping mechanism. She reads for many different reasons such as comfort, to stop her nightmares, to fit in and to remember. As she continues to steal books from the mayor’s wife, she realizes that the words hold power. It does not matter if the book is a story, an instruction booklet, or a dictionary. She connects with words in a way nobody else would understand. Liesel refuses to let the stolen books go because of the memories she has connected them
Markus Zusak’s novel The Book Thief depicts the life of a certain young German girl named Liesel Meminger during World War II. Her story was told through the eyes of Death, who narrates both the blessings and devastation that occurred during that era. Liesel experiences living with her new foster parents and come across a boy named Rudy Steider who will later on become her best friend. As the story unfolds, Liesel gradually discovers the horrifying truth behind the Nazi regime as her foster parents take refuge of a Jewish man. Despite being in the midst of destruction and recently coping from her traumatic background, she undertakes on a journey of self-discovery and
“The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak is narrated by death and begins when Liesel’s brother dies on a train with her and her mother. At her brother’s burial, she steals her first book, “The Grave Digger’s Handbook” and soon after is separated from her mother and sent to live with foster parents, Hans and Rosa Hubermann, in Molching, where the majority of the book takes place. At school, Liesel is teased because she can’t read so Hans teaches her to read when she wakes up from her frequent nightmares about her brother’s death. Hans is a painter and an accordion player and also plays the accordion for her after her nightmares. Liesel grows very close with Hans and also becomes close friends with her neighbor Rudy Steiner who constantly asks her to
“I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.” (Zusak 528) Words and the power they possess is a common theme that is heavily mentioned throughout the novel The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Throughout this book, rhetoric affects multiple characters in both positive and negative ways. There are instances in this book in which one can see how words have the ability to tear people down, educate and inform, and to inspire individuals to follow their dreams.
Literary devices Zusak included in the novel text was personification and metaphor. “The plane was still coughing. Smoke was leaking from both its lungs” (Zusak 9). This device is useful because it deepens the feeling of the plane crashing and makes the scene relatable
How does language impact each character from our readings, and what is the significance? A common theme within our various texts this semester was that of the importance of language. Not only is language a basis of verbal and written communication, but a deeper symbolic aspect of one’s own true identity. This piece will discuss include the significance of language to each character, what it personally means to them, as well as the conflicts they face with their specific means of communication.
In the novel The Book Thief by Markus Zusak the narrator is Death, who shows itself as sympathetic and sensitive towards the suffering of the world and the cruel human nature, through its eyes, we can get to know the heartbreaking story of Liesel Meminger an ordinary, but very lucky nine-year old German girl; living in the midst of World War II in Germany. In this book the author provides a different insight and observation about humanity during this time period from a German view and not an Allied perspective, as we are used to.
“‘Book burning’ refers to the ritual destruction by fire of books or other written materials. Usually carried out in a public context, the burning of books represents an element of censorship and usually proceeds from a cultural, religious, or political opposition to the materials in question.” (United States Holocaust Memorial Museum)
Words have the power to affect people in many ways from empowerment or to taking upon action. Words are able to make huge changes in the lives of many and can make good or bad changes. In history, people used words in both good and bad function from making a promise to a nation or even manipulating multitudes of people within a nation. Words definitely have the ability to take situations a far distance but despite the fact that evil can manipulate the majority of people, individuals too can realize the true actions and evil buried inside the perpetrator. People can be both ugly and beautiful at sometimes with weapons along their sides. A novel called The Book Thief illustrates the power of words in a multitude of ways, showing the potential
Words are powerful things. They can be used to construct or destruct. In the novel Black Boy, Richard Wright discovers this fact after reading inspirational works written by a man named Mencken. It is at this point in his life where he understands the importance of words. Wright qualifies the idea that language is an important key to identity and social acceptance using figures of speech and warrants.
In Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief, many characters develop an understanding of the power of words which results in many characters being negatively impacted by the theme.
Through the use of the idea of lying, myths, pretending to be someone else, and diction, Baraka is able to convey that language makes the identity of a person, and controls how that person acts. It is therefore evident that words speak louder than actions, because it is the words that make a person, and shape the acts of a person.
Wright’s choice of words is impactful and skillful. Certain words and phrases that he uses inflict feelings and emotions in the reader that other words or phrases could not. He choses his words with care to correctly portray how he feels about the subject.
...at the power of words entailed in the novel, The Book Thief, words really are very powerful. Three examples were given above as a few powers that the novel captured throughout the story. Words can manipulate and divide people, but at the same time connect people. Despite the fact that words have so many contradicting powers, one can use the words to their full extent when their intent is moral. In fact, words are meaningless if it doesn’t have an impact on an individual, society, or world. Words can do both good and bad, however, if one uses them in a proper way, it can result in a positive statement for our world. The novel gives the readers the lesson that we should comprehend the power of words and use words in a moral way. Just remember this: “I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.” (pg. 413)
I chose this quote because as I mentioned before, it was one that stuck with me throughout the book. Not the direct text of the quote, but what the quote means to me. I understand it as, Liesel does not agree with the Nazi party and how they view and treat Jews, however, to ensure her safety she says a 'hail Hitler'. Actions like these, ones that the Germans do so that they wouldn't angry the Nazi party and ensure they are safe. In the case of the Hubermanns, they are people that do these actions out of an obligation to fulfill their duties as Germans, the leaders of the Nazi party. They are not doing things such as saying, "hail Hitler" to every German they see because they believe in the actions of Hitler, they were doing it to keep themselves and their family safe from the cruel acts of punishment. In the quote and numerous times in the book we can find examples of the hesitation of acting towards the German soldiers, or any other German. With Lisel and the Hubermanns it
Markus Zusak uses Hyperbole, in order to enhance imagery for the readers. He uses Hyperbole when he is explaining the fear that runs through the Hubermann home, when they discover the Nazis will be examining their basement. Their hearts were beating so intensely from fear, when they realized their time to efficiently hide Max was over. Zusak over exaggerates their fear by creating an impossible occurrence, which helps readers clearly visualize and understand the intensity of fear that surrounds their home. In conclusion, the author uses hyperbole in order to enhance the fear felt amongst the Hubermann household.